Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-01-27

sIhi IN Its --5~s.y ". ~~Spsllse, as MS
trembling fingers tore of the end of
white envelope. She had written on.
ly line, and it said; al shall be on
my way home next week" The mis-
sive slipped from his hand to the floor
and he sat perplexed. Did she mean
that she was going to pass him by.
Pharisee fashion, or did she mean
that she intended to stop off and see
him? OH 1t must be that she was
intending to call. as she did not say
one word about being 1'just friend.b
No, she either meant to make him
happy or plunge him back into the
gulf OF nothingness from which she had
lifted him. Ali that would be some
thing beside which death would be a
kindnessl
Next week" had come and gone up
to Friday noon, still he sat by the
window watching every westward
bound train. His position also gave
him view OF the street. and he knew
the way she would come-if she came
to him at au
The days he had waited seemed end
less, but the week was going too fast.
Oh! for glimpse OF her around the
corner yonder. There was the last
tram for to-day. Now he would look
with eager eyes for it might be that
surely she would have had time now
to come in sight. but she had not.
No, she meant to forget him. and he
covered his weary eyes with his hands,
and sat still, so still that he was
counting the pulsations of his aching
heart. A step sounded on the walk
outside, but he had not the courage
to look up; of course it was not her,
and he wished that he was-but the
door opened softly, and-"I have
come" she said.
He looked up, there stood the one
dear woman OF all the world, radiant
with the love light in her happy,
kindly face, and she was holding out
her hands to him.
ooh! it is you," he exclaimed, a
wild delight ringing through his words.
HIS vision grew misty, and he trem-
bled with his great happiness. He
clasped her to his joyous heart, and
pressed long passionate kiss-the
one kiss of his lifetime-on the blessed
face. My love, my lifei" he said,
arms. "Do you know what your
coming brings. dearest?" he asked,
looking down into her bright face.
Happiness" she answered with
smile.
"More than that, love-" and he
passed his hand carressiEgly over the
full White brow, with its rings OF clus-
tering hair. at means ecstatic bliss:
it means that i have now no part
nor lot with poor Richard Realf for
| can go to conquest in the light OF
your love, my own; it means that my
sorrowful life shall be filled with sun.
shine, and that the sweet cup, instead
OF bitter, has been placed to my wait
ihg lips at last. The gates of my Ed
enland OF bright dreams of love and
fame are no more to be closed against
me; all because you have saved me
from my failure >"
This was long speech for the timid,
retiring man to make, but he was very
happy now. and the love of his soul
had come after years of patient wait
ing.
A happy, contented light shone
from the depths OF the blue gray eyes,
and the happy woman In his arms
said, reverently: al have found my
Beulah in the great, good soul of my
friend. We, you and /, have been
children of sorrow, but now for us the
Muses. may sing soft, sweet PSALM
and at evening it shall be light.
And her lover answered in his deep,
manly voice, "Amenp'-MANDA L.
CROKER.